A massive pile of damaged tree limbs and trunks stretches the length of the Echo Dale Swim Centre parking lot in this Aug. 26 photo. The City of Medicine Hat estimates damage to its property from a July 18 storm at about $4 million in uninsurable loses.--News Photo Collin Gallant
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Damage to city infrastructure from a tornado and damaging wind storm in late July could be as high as $4 million, a Medicine Hat council committee heard Thursday.
The figure was discussed as part of the initial application to the province’s disaster recovery fund.
At this point, the total is a “high level” estimate, which will be refined over the next 60 days, according to corporate services division head Dennis Egert.
“We’re not new to this process and have applied several times over the last 15 years,” Egert told the corporate services committee.
The total covers loss of municipal property but does not include costs to the town of Redcliff or Cypress County, which both saw heavy damage, and will submit claims to the program separately. Neither has released any information about a potential claim.
Heavy wind snapped power poles and damaged electrical systems owned by the city of Medicine Hat’s distribution company in all three jurisdictions on July 18.
The most intense loss of private property occurred in a band which intersected a bend in Highway 523, southwest of the city, while Echo Dale Regional Park saw dozens of trees toppled.
More than 70 polls were replaced in the first five days along with switches, transformers and other equipment, which, Egert said, could fall under disaster recovery program as it is not economical to insure.
Two weeks ago, officials told the utility and infrastructure committee line workers were now sorting through the equipment which was replaced to determine what could be salvaged for reuse.
